This is an index to compiled service records for approximately 80,000 soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The records indexed are from the National Archives and Records Administration publication M881.

This is an index to compiled service records for approximately 80,000 soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The records indexed are from the National Archives and Records Administration publication M881.

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=== Citation for This Collection ===

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This index corresponds to the National Archives and Records Administration publication M881. Compiled Service records were kept for soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War. Each envelope/jacket contains information and cross references to original records relating to the soldier.&nbsp;

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The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

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This collection is an index to records for the years 1775-1783.

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{{Collection citation

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This index was created to provide quick access to compiled service records.

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| text =<!--bibdescbegin-->Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War, Index, 1775-1785, index, ''FamilySearch'' ([https://www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org]); from National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. M881. Digital copies from Footnote.com<!--bibdescend--> }}

The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that even though this index is very accurate it still may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings or misinterpretations.

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=== Record Content ===

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== Record Content ==

Most of the Compiled Service Record index entries include the following information:

Most of the Compiled Service Record index entries include the following information:

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*Soldier’s name

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*Name of soldier

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*State served in

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*Rank, regiment and commanding officer

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*Regiment

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*State from which served

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*Date of commission or enlistment

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*Term of enlistment

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*Pay records

*Type of records in file

*Type of records in file

*NARA publication number, title, and roll number

*NARA publication number, title, and roll number

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== How to Use the Record ==

== How to Use the Record ==

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Use the locator information found in the index (such as roll number and the unit served in) to locate your ancestors in the service records. Compare the information in the records to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination. If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names. Keep in mind that even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

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To begin your search it is helpful to know:

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*Name of your ancestor

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*State

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*Date of enlistment

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=== Search the Collection ===

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To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:

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*There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.

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*You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.

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*Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.

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*If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.

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*Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

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For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at [http://broadcast.lds.org/familysearch/2011-12-03-familysearch-search-tips-1000k-eng.mp4 FamilySearch Search Tips].

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When you have located your ancestor’s service record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.

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=== Using the Information ===

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For example:

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When you have located your ancestor’s service record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:

*Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.

*Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.

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*Use the age and location of the military unit to find the soldier’s family in census, church, and land records.

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*Use the age and location of the military unit to find the soldier’s family in census, church, and land records.

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=== Tips to Keep in Mind ===

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*Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit.

*Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit.

*When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

*When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

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If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:

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==== Unable to Find your Ancestor? ====

*Check for variant spellings of the surnames.

*Check for variant spellings of the surnames.

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*Search the records of nearby military units.

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*Search the records of nearby military units. <br>

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== Record History ==

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This index corresponds to the National Archives and Records Administration publication M881. Compiled Service records were kept for soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War. Each envelope/jacket contains information and cross references to original records relating to the soldier.

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=== Why the Record Was Created ===

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This index was created to provide quick access to compiled service records.

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== Known Issues with This Collection ==

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=== Record Reliability ===

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{{HR Known Issues}}For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached [[United States, Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)/Known Issues|Wiki article]]. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

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The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that even though this index is very accurate it still may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings or misinterpretations.

== Related Websites ==

== Related Websites ==

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*[[Revolutionary War Service Records|Revolutionary War Service Records]]

*[[Revolutionary War Service Records|Revolutionary War Service Records]]

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=== Contributions to This Article ===

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== Contributions to This Article ==

{{Contributor invite}}

{{Contributor invite}}

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When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article [[Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]].

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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article [[Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]].

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=== Citation for This Collection ===

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==== Citation for a Record Found&nbsp;in This Collection ====

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The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

{{Collection citation | text= "United States, Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records, 1775-1783." Index. <i>FamilySearch</i>.http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2013. Citing "Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War." <i>Fold3.com</i>. http://www.fold3.com : n.d.}}

Record Description

This is an index to compiled service records for approximately 80,000 soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The records indexed are from the National Archives and Records Administration publication M881.

This index corresponds to the National Archives and Records Administration publication M881. Compiled Service records were kept for soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War. Each envelope/jacket contains information and cross references to original records relating to the soldier.

This collection is an index to records for the years 1775-1783.

This index was created to provide quick access to compiled service records.

The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that even though this index is very accurate it still may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings or misinterpretations.

Record Content

Most of the Compiled Service Record index entries include the following information:

Name of soldier

Rank, regiment and commanding officer

State from which served

Date of commission or enlistment

Term of enlistment

Pay records

Type of records in file

NARA publication number, title, and roll number

How to Use the Record

To begin your search it is helpful to know:

Name of your ancestor

State

Date of enlistment

Search the Collection

To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:

There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.

You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.

Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.

If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.

Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

Using the Information

When you have located your ancestor’s service record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:

Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.

Use the age and location of the military unit to find the soldier’s family in census, church, and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit.

When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Unable to Find your Ancestor?

Check for variant spellings of the surnames.

Search the records of nearby military units.

Known Issues with This Collection

For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to support@familysearch.org. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites

Related Wiki Articles

Contributions to This Article

We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. We are looking for additional information that will help readers understand the topic and better use the available records. We also need translations for collection titles and images in articles about records written in languages other than English. For specific needs, please visit WikiProject FamilySearch Records.

Please follow these guidelines as you make changes. Thank you for any contributions you may provide.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

Citation for This Collection

The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

"United States, Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records, 1775-1783." Index. FamilySearch.http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2013. Citing "Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War." Fold3.com. http://www.fold3.com : n.d.